Hike Description:

This hike follows the white-stripe-on-yellow-blazed Indian Hill Loop Trail, described here in a counter-clockwise direction. (As of April 2013, there are also some yellow blazes along the trail.) From the information kiosk in the parking area, the trail proceeds through a hemlock grove, turns right and climbs to the crest of a rise. After descending a little, it climbs through mountain laurel to reach a open granite ledge, with west-facing views over the hills of Sterling Forest.

A short distance beyond, the red-blazed Furnace Loop Trail joins from the right. Continue ahead, now following both white-stripe-on-yellow and red blazes, as the joint trails climb to the ridgetop and descend into a valley, crossing several stone walls. After climbing to another rock ledge, with views to the south and east, they descend to a junction with a woods road. Here, the trails turn right onto the road, and the yellow-bird-on-green-blazed Warbler Trail begins on the left. You may wish to detour to the left on the Warbler Trail, which leads in 200 feet to a dam and a picturesque pond.

The joint white-stripe-on-yellow and red trails soon turn left, leaving the woods road. Just beyond, the red-blazed Furnace Loop Trail leaves to the right. For the remainder of the hike, you’ll be following only the white-stripe-on-yellow blazes of the Indian Hill Loop Trail. The trail now crosses a stream on rocks and climbs to a panoramic south-facing viewpoint from a rock ledge. It then ascends to the ridgetop, which it follows north.

After a relatively level stretch, the trail climbs to the highest point on the ridge (1,047 feet). Just beyond, rock ledges to the right of the trail offer unobstructed views across the Ramapo Valley to Harriman State Park. Green Pond Mountain dominates the view, with the grassy Elk Pen in the foreground and the New York State Thruway below in the valley.

From the ridge, the trail descends gradually on switchbacks. Near the bottom, it briefly follows a stone wall, then turns right onto a woods road. At the base of the descent, it turns left onto a woods road between unusually wide stone walls. Soon, the trail turns right, goes through a gap in a massive stone wall, and continues on a footpath, passing a huge oak tree.

After crossing a stone wall, the Indian Hill Loop Trail reaches a junction with a blue-blazed trail that begins on the right and heads north to connect, in 0.4 mile, with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail. Here, the Indian Hill Loop Trail turns left and begins to parallel the stone wall. It soon crosses two more stone walls, as well as a woods road lined on both sides with wide stone walls.

After passing through a wide gap in yet another stone wall, the trail turns left onto a grassy woods road. At a T-intersection, it turns right onto another woods road, which it follows for about a quarter mile to the barrier gate just beyond the parking area. Turn left and climb to the parking area, where the hike began.

Indian Hill Loop Trail

This hike follows the white-stripe-on-yellow-blazed Indian Hill Loop Trail, described here in a counter-clockwise direction. (As of April 2013, there are also some yellow blazes along the trail.) From the information kiosk in the parking area, the trail proceeds through a hemlock grove, turns right and climbs to the crest of a rise. After descending a little, it climbs through mountain laurel...

Prepare For Your Hike

Hike Checklist:

Whether you are going for a day hike or backpacking overnight, it is good practice to carry what we call The Hiking Essentials. These essentials will help you enjoy your outing more and will provide basic safety gear if needed. There may also be more essentials, depending on the season and your needs.

The Essentials

Hiking Shoes or Boots

Water - Two quarts per person is recommended in every season. Keep in mind that fluid loss is heightened in winter as well as summer. Don't put yourself in the position of having to end your hike early because you have run out of water.

Map - Know where you are and where you are going. Many of our hiking areas feature interconnecting network of trails. Use a waterproof/tear-resistant Tyvek Trail Conference map if available or enclose your map in a Ziplock plastic bag. If you have a mobile device, download Avenza’s free PDF Maps app and grab some GPS-enhanced Trail Conference maps (a backup Tyvek or paper version of the map is good to have just in case your batteries die or you don't have service). Check out some map-reading basics here.

Food - Snacks/lunch will keep you going as you burn energy walking or climbing. Nuts, seeds, and chocolate are favorites on the trail.

Sunscreen and insect repellent

Rain Gear and Extra Clothing - Rain happens. So does cold. Be prepared for changing weather. Avoid cotton--it traps water against your skin and is slow to dry. If you are wearing wet cotton and must return to your starting point, you risk getting chills that may lead to a dangerous hypothermia. Choose synthetic shirts, sweaters and/or vests and dress in layers for easy on and off.

Compass - A simple compass is all you need to orient you and your map to magnetic north.

Light - A flashlight or small, lightweight headlamp will be welcome gear if you find yourself still on the trail when darkness falls. Check the batteries before you start out and have extras in your pack.

First Aid Kit - Keep it simple, compact, and weatherproof. Know how to use the basic components.

Firestarter and Matches - In an emergency, you may need to keep yourself or someone else warm until help arrives. A firestarter (this could be as simple as leftover birthday candles that are kept inside a waterproof container) and matches (again, make sure to keep them in a waterproof container) could save a life.

Knife or Multi-tool - You may need to cut a piece of moleskin to put over a blister, repair a piece of broken equipment, or solve some other unexpected problem.

Emergency Numbers - Know the emergency numbers for the area you're going to and realize that in many locations--especially mountainous ones, your phone will not get reception.

Common Sense - Pay attention to your environment, your energy, and the condition of your companions. Has the weather turned rainy? Is daylight fading? Did you drink all your water? Did your companion fail to bring rain gear? Are you getting tired? Keep in mind that until you turn around you are (typically) only half-way to completing your hike--you must still get back to where you started from! (Exceptions are loop hikes.)

Check the weather forecast before you head out. Know the rules and regulations of the area.

Let's Go

Directions to Trailhead :

Take NY Route 17 North through Sloatsburg and Tuxedo, and continue on Route 17 past the intersection with NY 17A into Southfields. About 1.3 miles beyond the intersection with NY 17A, turn left onto Orange Turnpike (County Route 19) and continue for 1.3 miles to the park entrance on the right (marked by a sign for “Indian Hill”). Turn right and follow the dirt road ahead for 0.2 mile, then turn right into the parking area.

Trip Reports

A nice loop hike, true to its Moderate rating. We had one wrong turn: In the first paragraph of the hike description, beware a turn in the blazed trail at the top of a small rocky rise where a well-worn unmarked trail runs straight ahead. We mistakenly followed that unmarked trail as it became a woods road, realizing it was not blazed. Backtracking got us completely turned around, but once we restarted the hike, we realized our mistake - reading the ground instead of the obvious blazes.
The trail is well-blazed throughout, particularly the nice winding section in common with the Furnace Loop Trail. The two or three lookouts gave surprisingly nice vistas with no development in sight. Unfortunately, however, road noise is strong at portions where the hike parallels Route 17 or the NY Thruway.
A theory on the double-wide walls: These wider walls are at the bottom of the slope, where it would be easier to move rock downhill from the field. Since rock walls are typically less than waist height, the excess number of rocks were best deposited wider rather than higher. Also possible that the wall was constructed with two parallel finished sides, and loose rock was tossed to fill in between. I was impressed by the obvious gateway openings in these walls where large square cornerstone rocks frame the opening.
Overall, a really nice 2-3 hour hike with stone reminders of past history criss-crossing the hills.
HUNTING SEASON NOTE: This area was posted for hunting season that started October 1. Hikers should wear bright clothing.

glennagrube

July 19, 2017

0

Indian Hill Trail 2016 complaint

The trail has been maintained since that time. It was examined two days ago and found in acceptable condition though not perfect: hot weather and rain have resulted in significant recent plant growth. We plan to clear it thoroughly within the next 2 or 3 weeks depending upon weather conditions.